Name: Air Fryer Asparagus
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Ingredients: 1 pound asparagus; 1 tablespoon avocado oil; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

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In my opinion, asparagus is one of the great low-carb vegetables that shines when cooked in the air fryer. Air frying ensures it cooks perfectly every time, giving you that ideal balance of tenderness and crispness. This method brings out its natural flavors while keeping it healthy and light. You’ll love how easy it is to prepare and how delicious it turns out!

Asparagus spears arranged in an air fryer basket, seasoned and cooked. Lemon wedges, parsley, a striped cloth, and salt and pepper shakers surround the basket. — Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

Air Fryer Asparagus

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Asparagus can be a tricky vegetable to master. Overcook it and you end up with limp, tasteless spears. Undercook it and it tastes bitter. However, when you pop it in the air fryer and season it just right, it turns into something truly special. This method might just change your mind about eating asparagus, just like it did for me. The air fryer brings out a delightful crispiness while retaining a tender bite, making it a perfect side dish that you’ll want to enjoy again and again.

Ingredients Overview

Bundle of asparagus on a plate, with avocado oil, pepper, and salt in separate containers nearby.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Start by preheating your air fryer to 400 F for about 5 minutes. While it heats up, trim the tough ends of the asparagus spears by snapping or cutting them off.

Next, place the trimmed asparagus spears in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Brush with avocado oil or another high-smoke point oil.

Season the asparagus by sprinkling salt and pepper over the oiled spears. You might want to use tongs to turn each spear, ensuring that the seasonings are evenly distributed.

Three images showing asparagus preparation steps: Step 1 - trimmed asparagus on a board, Step 2 - brushing asparagus with olive oil, Step 3 - seasoning with salt and pepper in an air fryer. — Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

Cook the asparagus in the air fryer for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to promote even cooking. You’ll know the asparagus is done when it’s tender-crisp and has a slight char.

Once cooked, remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.

Close-up of fresh green asparagus held by a white clip. The background is blurred with a hint of more asparagus. — Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

Notes

You might need to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of the asparagus spears and how tender you prefer them. Personally, I find that the longer they cook, the better they taste.

I also have a low tolerance for spice, which is why I stick to seasoning everything with just salt and pepper. However, feel free to get creative with additional seasonings or herbs based on your taste preferences. It’s all about making the air-fried vegetables suit your palate, so don’t hesitate to experiment!

Use any leftover asparagus spears to make low carb soup in the Instant Pot.

A plate of roasted asparagus spears garnished with sea salt, with a slice of lemon in the corner. — Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Air Fryer Asparagus

Asparagus is the perfect low-carb vegetable to enjoy as a side dish. In this recipe, it has just four grams of carbs.

Making it in the air fryer ensures that you cook this finicky vegetable perfectly. It always comes out tasting delicious.

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Course: Side Dish, Side Dishes, Vegetable Side

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 8

Servings:

Calories: 54kcal

Author: Leah Ingram

Equipment

1 Air fryer

Ingredients

1 pound asparagus
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 400 F for about 5 minutes.
Trim the tough ends of the asparagus spears by snapping or cutting them off.
Place the trimmed asparagus spears to the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer.
Brush with avocado oil or another high-smoke point oil.
Season the asparagus by adding salt and pepper over the oiled asparagus spears. You may want to use tongs to turn each spear to evenly distribute the seasonings.
Cook the asparagus in the air fryer for 6-8 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. You'll know that the asparagus is fully cooked when it is tender-crisp and slightly charred.
Remove the asparagus from the air fryer and serve immediately.

Notes

You might need to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of the asparagus spears and how tender you prefer them. Personally, I find that the longer they cook, the better they taste.

Nutrition